Times of Trouble

Posted on by korgrocker

“In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favourably on your burnt offerings.”
Psalm 20:1-3 NLT

David has picked up his pen again and is writing another Psalm. He was probably looking out around his environment and could see distress in people’s lives. Or someone had come to him with a troublesome problem. And with all those wives, trouble wouldn’t have been far from his door. But because of Adam’s sin, the problem-free lives designed by God when He created human beings were corrupted and twisted by frequent visitations of “times of trouble”. And we also see lives of people today constantly beset with “times of trouble”. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle east continue to grind on, causing so much death, distress, and destruction. The UK is seeing major increases in social taxes and energy costs, particularly squeezing the household budgets of the less well off in our societies. There seems to be no end in any generation to “times of trouble”.

David knew the power of God because He had experienced God’s providence in his “times of trouble”. We read in 2 Samuel 22:1-3, “David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my saviour, the one who saves me from violence“. So when David wrote, “may the Lord answer your cry” it was from his personal experiences of God answering his own cries. Do we pilgrims also have testimonies of when God delivered us from our troubles? I certainly do, and I regularly thank God for His care and protection, knowing that He is always there for me.

It is interesting that David wrote, “May the name of the God of Jacob …”. What is the significance of the name of God? I can remember as a very young Christian questioning the recognition of the name of God, suggesting that it was God Himself who I need to worship. But then I found this verse about the name of God. The Bible is full of the many names of God, each describing a different aspect of His character. Names such as “Elohim” meaning “God, Creator, mighty and strong”. Or we have “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”, meaning “LORD”. There are many more. 

The name of Jesus has particular significance, as we read in Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. In fact, the name of Jesus is so powerful that we can ask for anything in His name and He will do it (John 14:13-14).

We pilgrims are going to encounter trouble in this life. We know that, because Jesus warned us about it. John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world“. But through Jesus and the power of His name we can overcome the world. Paul wrote some encouraging words at the end of Romans 8, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us”(Romans 8:35, 37). So we pray today that we will be kept close to Jesus through His love and that we will be “kept safe from all harm”. 

Dear Lord Jesus. You overcame all that the world threw at You, even death on a cross. We thank You for Your love and protection. Amen.

Insults

Posted on by korgrocker

“If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.”
1 Peter 4:14 NLT

Being insulted for their faith was a common problem for the Christians in Peter’s day. Much is recorded in historical accounts of those early years of the Way, the new movement initiated by God Himself through His Son, Jesus. Those new converts turned the world upside down, challenging the status quo and spreading the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. But it came at a cost. We have already considered the “fiery trials”, the persecution experienced by Christians, that frequently resulted in their martyrdom. But there has always been a low level of persecution – name calling, awkwardness in the workplace, and so on – throughout the centuries, then and since. The worldly societies have always resented Christians because they proclaim a life of selfless purity that challenges the selfish and sinful behaviour so prevalent within the cultures of the day. Today, superficially, society seems more tolerant of Christians here in the West, that is, until they emerge from the shadows and make a statement that counter-culturally upsets a “sacred cow” otherwise deemed acceptable. Take the issue of abortion, for example. The Uk society is quite accepting of Christians having a different Bible-based point of view, until they do something about it by standing and praying outside abortion clinics. Then the insults and mistreatment start. 

The question often asked is, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict you?” The Christian faith is one that, by its very nature, has to be visible to society around us. If it isn’t then we need to ask ourselves if we are truly bearing “the name of Christ”. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden”. But as we know, the godless societies in which we live do not like the “light” that believers shine with. It exposes the dark and evil ways of the society around us and we who shine in this way will attract insults just as the early Christians did in Peter’s generation. However, Peter encourages his readers with the reality (through faith) that any insults directed to them because they are Christians who “bear the name of Christ“, will find that they will receive Heavenly blessings and rewards. In fact, Peter stated that if they were insulted for their faith then it is an indication, even a proof, that the Holy Spirit is with them.

In the evangelical endeavours of those early believers, they promoted a Gospel as Peter himself preached in his Acts 2 sermon. He said, “ … Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Four things that marked a true conversion, transforming a person from darkness to light. Following their repentance, turning to God, and water baptism, they then received the Holy Spirit. So the presence of God’s Spirit with them and moving in power in their fellowships, would have been a common experience. But fast forward to today. Modern evangelists have perhaps in many cases watered down the Gospel Peter preached and instead have moved the focus away from God’s righteousness to His love. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, who brought the blessings that Peter and the early believers experienced, the Gospel, that is the Good News about God and His Son Jesus, will have little effect and impact.

We pilgrims must always be aware that sharing our faith will often result in insults from those who don’t want to hear our messages of hope. But deep down inside each one of us is a compelling desire to tell others what Jesus has done for us. We can’t keep it inside. We can’t help sharing it. We do so in the knowledge that Jesus commissioned us to, “ … Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15). But we know that when we expose others to the Gospel, the Holy Spirit is within us, and Jesus looks on, uttering a big “Yes” as the hearers face the reality of their sins.

Dear Lord, please help me to show the people with whom I share Your message Your love and attention in a way that they have never seen before. In Jesus’ name. Amen.